Spanish Demonstratives: Using This, That, These, Those and Aquí, Acá, Allí, Allá
Learn Spanish demonstratives to point out people and things near and far, and understand the difference between aquí and acá, allí and allá, with clear examples and a dialogue.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Spanish demonstratives let you point at people and things and say whether they are close to you, close to the person you are speaking to, or far from both of you. They also change for gender and number, and they work together with location words like aquí, acá, allí, and allá. In this lesson you will learn the core forms, the difference between those location pairs, and how to build simple sentences like 'This book is mine; that one is yours.' You will also practice asking about objects in a shop or around you, so you can use these words in real conversations.
By the end, you can…
- point out people and things using este, esta, estos, estas and ese, esa, esos, esas.
- distinguish and use aquí, acá, allí, and allá to talk about location.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Este libro es mío; ese es tuyo.
This book is mine; that one is yours.
EHS-teh LEE-broh ehs MEE-oh; EH-seh ehs TOO-yoh
Use este for something near you, ese for something near the person you are talking to.
Estos zapatos son cómodos, pero esos no.
These shoes are comfortable, but those aren't.
EHS-tohs sah-PAH-tohs sohn KOH-moh-dohs, PEH-roh EH-sohs noh
Estos points to items close to you; esos points to items close to the listener or a bit farther.
Aquí está la tienda; allí está el café.
The shop is here; the café is there.
ah-KEE ehs-TAH lah TYEHN-dah; ah-YEE ehs-TAH ehl kah-FEH
Aquí means 'here' near the speaker; allí means 'there' not far but not right here.
Acá hay más espacio que allá.
Over here there is more space than over there.
ah-KAH eye MAHS ehs-PAH-syoh keh ah-YAH
Acá and allá are common in Latin American Spanish for 'over here' and 'over there'.
¿Qué es eso que tienes en la mano?
What is that you have in your hand?
keh ehs EH-soh keh TYEH-nehs ehn lah MAH-noh
Eso refers to something near the listener or already mentioned.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Spanish demonstratives have three distances: near the speaker (este, esta, estos, estas), near the listener (ese, esa, esos, esas), and far from both (aquel, aquella, aquellos, aquellas). They agree in gender and number with the noun: este libro (this book), esta mesa (this table), estos libros (these books), estas mesas (these tables). The same pattern applies to ese and aquel. Location words match: aquí/acá for near the speaker, allí/allá for farther away. For example: Este bolso es mío. Ese bolso es tuyo. Aquel bolso es de ella. Aquí está mi bolso. Allí está el tuyo. Allá está el suyo.
When to use it
Use aquí for a precise 'right here' near you, and acá for 'over here' or 'this way', often with motion or a general area. In Latin America, acá is very common in everyday speech. Allí means 'there' at a middle distance, while allá means 'over there' farther away or less defined. In Spain, allí and allá are both used, but allá can sound more emphatic or literary. In Latin America, acá and allá are frequent in conversation. For example: Ven acá. (Come over here.) Mi casa está allá. (My house is over there.) El baño está allí. (The bathroom is there.)
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¿Qué es eso que tienes en la mano?
What is that you have in your hand?keh ehs EH-soh keh TYEH-nehs ehn lah MAH-nohEs una revista. La compré aquí en la tienda.
It's a magazine. I bought it here in the shop.ehs OO-nah reh-VEES-tah. lah kohm-PREH ah-KEE ehn lah TYEHN-dah¿Y esos libros de allá? ¿Son tuyos?
And those books over there? Are they yours?ee EH-sohs LEE-brohs deh ah-YAH? sohn TOO-yohsNo, esos son de mi hermana. Estos de acá son míos.
No, those are my sister's. These over here are mine.noh, EH-sohs sohn deh mee ehr-MAH-nah. EHS-tohs deh ah-KAH sohn MEE-ohsA little context goes a long way
In Latin American Spanish, acá and allá are common in everyday speech, while aquí and allí are also used and often sound a bit more precise. In Spain, aquí and allí are standard, and acá and allá appear in set phrases or for emphasis. Using acá or allá is not a mistake; it simply reflects regional preference. When you travel, listen to how people around you use these words and mirror them.
One thing to watch for
Using este for something far away, as in 'Este libro es tuyo' while pointing to a book across the room.
Try this instead: Use ese or aquel for things farther away. If the book is near the listener, say 'Ese libro es tuyo.' If it is far from both of you, say 'Aquel libro es tuyo.' Este is only for something close to you.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are holding a pen and want to say 'This pen is mine.' Which demonstrative do you use?
Show a sample answer
Esta pluma es mía.
Esta agrees with the feminine noun pluma and shows the pen is near you. In some regions, 'Este bolígrafo es mío' is also correct if you use bolígrafo (masculine).
2Your friend has a bag next to them. How do you say 'That bag is yours'?
Show a sample answer
Esa bolsa es tuya.
Esa points to something near the listener. If the bag were far from both of you, you could say 'Aquella bolsa es tuya.'
3You want to say 'The bathroom is over there' pointing to a distant corner. Which location word fits best?
Show a sample answer
El baño está allá.
Allá suggests a farther or less precise location. Allí is also possible and means 'there' at a middle distance; both are correct depending on how far and how precise you want to be.
Use este/esta for near you, ese/esa for near the listener, and aquel/aquella for far from both. Match location words: aquí/acá for here, allí/allá for there. Acá and allá are common in Latin America and never wrong in the right context.
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